Brandon Kintzler

Strikeouts are not part of the package with Kintzler (6.1 career K/9, 4.9 in 2017), but he was effective in the closer role for Minnesota, converting 28 of 32 save chances last season before being tra...

Kintzler was an unheralded minor league signing last season as the Twins signed him for depth and he began the season at Triple-A. After Glen Perkins was lost for the year due to injury and Kevin Jepsen proved ineffective, Kintzler surprisingly got a shot at the closer role in June and kept the job the rest of the season. While Kintzler had just a 5.8 K/9, he kept batters off base with good control (1.33 BB/9) and generated groundballs (61.9 percent of batted balls), leading to conversions on 17 of 20 save chances. Despite his success, he's just as unlikely a candidate to keep the job given his lack of dominant velocity (92.7 mph average fastball) and mediocre strikeout rates (career 6.5 K/9). However, his success as a closer last season should give him the first chance at the role in 2016.

2015

Kintzler had a quality season pitching in middle relief, but he was not as effective as he was the year before, as he had some trouble with the long ball and saw his strikeout rate fall. He has been a regular out of the Brewers’ bullpen the last couple seasons and will likely be one again in 2015, but he had a 4.74 FIP last season, so he will need to sharpen things up to hold down his spot.

2014

Kintzler was a steady middle reliever for the Brewers in 2013, posting a 2.69 ERA and a miniscule 1.07 WHIP. He is not a big strikeout pitcher, but he does a good job keeping runners off the bases, and also keeping the ball in the park. Kintzler fared well pitching in late innings in the 2013 season, and as one of the more experienced relievers in the bullpen, he has a good chance to remain in that role in 2014.

2013

Kintzler has been plagued by arm injuries the last couple seasons, but he was back at full strength by the end of last season and held his own in a September stint with the big club. Kintzler isn't a big strikeout pitcher despite throwing a mid-90s fastball, but he has given himself a chance to earn a spot in the Brewers' bullpen by pitching well in the minors the last couple seasons. Look for him to work in middle relief if he pitches well this spring.

2012

Kintzler's season was cut short due to a stress fracture in his right arm after just 14.2 innings. He'll get a chance to earn a bullpen spot during spring training, but needs to eliminate his extreme vulnerability to the long ball (five allowed in 22 career big league innings) in order to secure his role as a middle reliever in Milwaukee.

2011

Kintzler moved all the way from Double-A Huntsville to the majors in 2010, using a combination of control and groundballs. He'll get a chance to earn a bullpen role during spring training, but there's not a future closer skill set in play here.